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burgers

Two trends have swept across Paris over the past few years, which, paradoxically, are somewhat at odds with each other. Who would have predicted a decade ago that hamburgers and vegetarianism would both be buzzwords on the Paris food scene? One of the good things about the burger movement is that instead of the wan, overpriced (€15 and up) burgers that had been served in Paris cafés, people have seen that a good hamburger made with freshly ground beef of good quality, handmade buns, isn’t just industrial, fast-food fare.

(A third trend in Paris has been la cuisine mexicaine, or Mexican food, with a homemade tortilla shop on the way. ¡Ay, caramba!)

But when made with quality ingredients, it’s a treat worthy of the adulation it gets on its home turf. It’s like comparing the canned cassoulet made with hot dogs to the incomparable real cassoulet of the Southwest, or the rubbery supermarket camemberts to a sublime, oozingly ripe Camembert du Normandie.

eastside vegetarian hamburger in Paris

The vegetarian movement was, and has been, a bit slow to find its stride in Paris; too many take-out places pack everything in lots of plastic, and the creativity of vegetarian cooking hasn’t been fully realized. I was recently served a mound of undressed quinoa, a few leaves of arugula, and a couple of dinky vegetables on the side, which set me back €18, and at another café the €13 salade au choux was a pile of grated red cabbage tossed in vinegar. And that was it. Yes, really. I’m not kidding. It was really €13 ($17.50). And it was just cabbage and vinegar. For €13.

Even the folks who malign vegan food (including overpriced plates of cabbage) have to admit that lots of great foods fall into that category – Japanese pickled vegetable and plum maki (rice rolls), pastas with olive oil, fresh basil, garlic and stewed tomatoes, and even French classics like salade Niçoise (no, not this version) or many tians don’t even need to be adapted – they’re just naturally vegan.

Eastside brooklyn look Hamburger condiments

So now we have East Side Burgers, which calls itself a “The very food fast food 100% vegetarian restaurant in Paris!”, with an exclamation mark, which is indeed something that merits a bit of excitement. I knew that when they opened, they had a crush of people. So I waited a few months until things calmed down a bit.

I arrived for lunch just as they opened and the place was tidy and well-organized, always a good sign. There’s a chalkboard menu with items like quiche and hot dogs. But I was there for the burger and there were four burger choices at lunch, available as a formule (€9) with French fries or some nice-looking cole slaw, and a drink. I went with the Fromager (cheese) which looked nice when I opened the paper packet it was wrapped in, although the jury is still out on vegan cheese. The fries, however, were outstanding. Some of the best I’ve had in Paris and they were actually crisp and hot, not soggy and limp. Merci – as in, beaucoup.

Untitled

The staff is very friendly and the 22-seat downstairs dining area quickly filled up. There was a nice mix of folks in the faux-Brooklyn (another trend in Paris) dining area with briques faux (although pretty convincing, and I had to touch it to be sure) and it seemed to be mostly locals, not necessarily there because it was vegetarian fare, but because it was something new.

french fries sign

The upside of East Side Burgers is that vegetarians and vegans can eat here sans souci (without worry). The fries are excellent and the price is reasonable. One suggestion is that they ramp up the size of the soft burger patties, which are rather small for the jumbo bun. (Which they toast, which is great, although there is just a lot of bun and the burger gets lost in there.) If they dial up the size of the burger and get them as crusty as the fries, I’d say they have a hit on their hands with me. (Even though it seems from the full dining room at lunchtime, they already do. So what do I know?)

vegan cheesecake

For those who tend to associate vegetarianism with “healthy”, you’ll be pleased (or not) to know that they serve Coke and Dr Pepper. There’s also Vitamin Water and a few similar drinks, but I’d rather have a glass of juice or housemade lemonade. In the afternoon, they have “Coffee Time” with a near-bottomless cup and a vegan sweet snack. I could definitely see coming back in warm weather, so I can sit outside to enjoy a café with free refills, Américain Brooklyn Paris-style.

IMG_1072

East Side Burgers
60, boulevard Voltaire (11th)
M: Richard Lenoir or St. Ambroise



Related Links

Vegetarian Restaurants in Paris

Vegetarian Culinary Tours and Classes in Paris (la Cucina di Terresa)

Le camion qui fume

Where to Find a Great Hamburger in Paris

Noglu, Gluten-Free Restaurant in Paris

Tips for Vegtarian Dining in Paris

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61 comments

    • Holiday Baker Man

    These look great!

    • jacqui Muir

    Vegetarian burgers, sorry an oxymoron. Burgers should be meat. Perhaps another name is called for. As with “vegetarian sausages and other foods where the veggies have stolen the carnivore name. I’m not averse to them but the horror of mistakenly buying and eating vegetarian haggis convinced me that they need to be re named so I never make the mistake again. Controversial I know but offer no apology.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Nomenclature is always a tricky thing. Some don’t believe you can call anything a bagel if it has dried fruit it in (or if it’s not boiled before baking), that ice cream has to be made with all cream, or that it’s forbidden to use any cooked vegetable (or anything) on a salade Niçoise. But things change, foods evolve, and I cringe at the word “veggie” so I can’t bring myself to use the term “veggie burger.”

      I know it irks a certain group of people to use (or not use) the word ‘beefburger’ – but that’s perhaps more accurate for what is commonly called a hamburger. And maybe we should adopt that for hamburgers with beef, keep turkey and chicken burgers as they are, and find a new word that’s less-cumbersome than vegetable-burger for these fellas?
      : )

        • JLo

        LOL! Love you David

    • T. Tilash

    @ jacqui Muir
    I would think that vegetarian burgers would proudly and loudly advertise themselves as vegetarian or vegan. So buying one by mistake seems a stretch…

    I’m torn regarding the nomenclature thing… If you throw some tomato passata and a bit of olive oil is it a gazpacho ? Probably not, and yet if your passata is good and you use a great olive oil, it can be delicious… Originally gazpacho was just water, bread and olive oil, although today we wouldn’t think of it as a gazpacho.

    But I digress…

    When I think of what constitutes the unique qualities of a burger, it’s a bun (which is very rarely used in that form for any other dish), a patty with crunchy toppings and a sauce. Of course, I’m a carnivore, so I also think of medium rare juicy beef, but although the patty is obviously the star of the burger, I don’t feel that the type of meat (or lack of meat) is important to what one would perceive as being a burger.

    • kristen @thekaleproject

    I’ve yet to try this place as I’m just not a burger person in general meat or no meat. But no Heinz Ketchup? Sorry…the Pittsburgher in me just doesn’t understand that. Thanks for the review David – will have to make this one of my lunch stops soon.

    • Maureen in Oakland

    I was here 3 times in my 3 week annual visit this year. I LOVE their burgers and fries, and I opted for the non-vegan option (since I am not vegan). I really found it better than most veggie burger I have eaten on this side of the pond and find myself craving their formule often.

    I suppose if I asked really nicely they could open a second branch in Oakland. The Eastside would still work for this side of the bay.

    In lieu of that, before my next trip, David I don’t supposed you could air-mail me one?

    :)

    • Lynn

    I went to Blend (another new burget joint for non-Parisian readers) and while it was delicious, I was really disappointed in the size of the burger in relation to the bun. (Obviously they never saw the Where’s the Beef? lady here) My boyfriend had to order two burgers, and as a result I think our bill ended up being around 40€. (And truth be told, I could have eaten a second too) I hope these places figure out that a great bun is … great … but it needs to be in proportion to the main event.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Yes, the proportion needs to be right. I didn’t finish the bun and there were 2 women eating (who I think were likely on diets..) who took off the entire top bun and just picked around inside. I like Blend, but find the sauces sweet; am not sure what it is about sweet toppings, but I’m more into pickles and vinegary kinds of things. The bun needs to be toasted, which they totally get at East Side (and at some of the other places.) But if it’s not toasted, it’s just some soft bread and it need to stand up to the burger inside.

      But I hear ya on the prices in Paris. There is a café near me that charges €24 for a cheeseburger, and I’m sure it’s not even a good one. (And no, it’s not the same place where I had that ridiculous cabbage salad..)

    • Sissy

    Yesterday I had bowl of vegetarian chili at a restaurant and it was quite good — in recent years I’ve come to prefer meatless dishes. They seem lighter and less greasy — I guess I’m turning into a vegetarian. A friend gave me a recipe for a delicious vegetarian patty that I make into pattys and freeze. I love the way they taste (they are bean based) but they fall apart when I pan fry (or grill) them. I’m not sure what the solution is…

    • ClaireD

    Although we aren’t vegetarians, we stopped in this nice spot for lunch while in Paris in December. Also had the fromager, as I’m also a fan of vinegary condiments/additions. I completely agree with your assessment. The toasted bun was wonderful. The “cheese”, not so much. And definitely the pattie needs to reflect the size of the bun as it was lacking. The frites were my favorite; well cooked and salty. On the upside, the restaurant is located in a very pleasant area.

    And why do we call the meat version of this sandwich a “hamburger”? There’s no ham. Perhaps steakburger instead of beefburger?

    • Katie K

    So how are their desserts?

    • ami@naivecookcooks

    I would love to try this place out..In Chicago I am always in search of vegetarian hot dogs and burgers! These look so yummy !

    • Adrien de Food in Paris

    It’s very funny to notice that France is more developped in the “vegan burger business” than some places in the US… ;-)

    • Elizabeth Rogers

    Dear David,
    Please give us some information/ recipes for their vegetarian burgers and hot dogs! Thank you

    • Eline

    umm..I think caramba! is the word you were looking for ;) Sorry for the diversion in themes but you just made my day by announcing the opening of a tortilla shop in Paris. Can’t wait!

    • Ellie Epp

    David, thanks so much for cringing at ‘veggie’.

    • David
    David Lebovitz

    Ellie: You’re welcome…

    Eline: Oops. I think that’s the “Bart Simpson-effect” I was channeling.. thanks/gracias.

    Elizabeth: I don’t know if they want to share their recipe but perhaps if you dropped them a message, they might consider it?

    Adrien: To be fair, they’ve had vegetarian burgers for a while in the US, but don’t know if there are any specific places doing vegetarian burgers…with quiche on the menu, and tables set up with ashtrays outside, as well ; )

    Sissy: I like vegetarian (and vegan) foods. I don’t know why people get so critical of them. I like and eat meat, but there are lots of great things that are fine without meat – even hot dogs, since it’s often more about the seasonings than the actual meat in them.

    • DIANE DEVINE

    Speaking of burgers, most places in S.F. charge 12 to 15 $ with cheese extra1 or 2$. I still haven”t found a really good classic burger here, All the chefs seem to want to do their own thing and it usually is not good. Two thick and large buns and a thick patty that you can’t get your mouth around. This might come with one small arugula leaf. The vegan burger at Super Duper is decent and for a chain its not bad – the gang at Apple told me about it.

    • Deeli

    By Adrien de Food in Paris on January 30, 2013 5:15 PM

    It’s very funny to notice that France is more developed in the “vegan burger business” than some places in the US… ;-)

    Beg to differ, Adrien … What is it about those of you in France who seem to think you are better and more developed than the US when you are in all actually far behind the times ;-)

    I think it was meant to be a good-natured joke. France has been at the forefront of quite a few things, although I don’t know if vegetarianism is necessarily one of them. But I think we can all agree that the more food options for everyone, the better off we all are! – dl

      • Adrien de Food in Paris

      @Deeli : I was just joking after the comment of ami@naivecookcooks about his search of places like that in Chicago..

      Nothing serious at all.

    • Jane Herman

    I was in Canada many years ago (just north of the Washington State border) and ate THE MOST SPECTACULAR veggie burger in which the major ingredient was beets. It was at a cafe run by Doukhobors (a Russian religion) and I’ve tried to find a recipe ever since. Ring a bell for anyone?

      • Deeli

      Jane Herman, I just found this recipe a couple of months ago and it is yummy … Not sure if it’s exactly what you’re looking for but it’s worth a try :-)

      3 small beets, peeled and chopped (222 grams)
      1/2 cup green lentils
      1/2 cup bulgur wheat
      1/3 cup raw cashews
      1 cup mushrooms
      1/2 cup minced yellow onion
      1 tsp fresh thyme
      1/2 tsp salt
      1/4 tsp pepper
      1 tbsp + 1 tsp canola oil, divided
      2 cups water, divided

      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the chopped beets on a lined baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes until tender. Remove and set aside.

      While the beets are roasting, combine the lentils with 1 1/2 cups water in a small pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes until lentils are tender.

      Also on the stove, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add the bulgur then turn off the heat and cover for 10 minutes. The bulgur should absorb all of the liquid and be tender when done.

      Heat one tsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add minced onion, mushrooms and thyme and cook for about 6 minutes. Both onions and mushrooms should be softened.

      When you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready, start making your burgers! Place raw cashews in either a food processor or Vita-Mix and process until they become a flour. Then, add beets, bulgur, onions, mushrooms and rosemary and process until combined. Add cooked lentils and continue processing until everything has combined but still on the “chunky” side. Remove mixture from either food processor or blender and place in a large bowl.

      Heat up the remaining tablespoon of oil over high heat. Divide mixture into six veggie burger patties and carefully cook each side for about 5 minutes, until golden and crispy.

    • Karin P

    Yet another indication that Paris is opening, challenging traditions, and finding its place in the 21st century when it comes to food! I think this is exciting, and will ensure that Paris stays on the map that it created: one of the (or just “the”?) origins of Western Cuisine <—- right?!? We even use the French word for it in English!

    Thanks for reviewing this. I know a lot of people who live in Paris that will be very pleased to know of this restaurant and have yet another option when it comes to eating out and trying to stick with a "food conviction", whether it be by choice or by happenstance due to allergy, food intolerance, etc.

    And thanks for being an omnivore who is open and tolerant of the diversity that exists when it comes to what to eat and where to eat it. It is one of the things I appreciate most about your blog in these several years I have been a follower. You are aware of and savvy to the diversity that exists in life, and express that in terms of food and eating here in the blog. :-)

    Karin

    • cristina

    Wow! in March I will be in Paris, I sign the address.

    I absolutely have to try it :)
    I can not wait!
    _CRIS_

    • Julie

    Yay! I’m so happy there’s a veggie burger place in Paris. I’ll have to check it out next time I visit.

    We were quite dismayed when Piccolo Teatro went under (even after Gordon Ramsay’s attempt to revive it) and were even more shocked when the owner became a high-price call girl! Wowza!

    It sounds like this restaurant (and definitely after this review) is on its way to building a steady clientele. Thank you!

    • Annabel

    I once nearly bought veggie haggis by mistake – I believe it’s delicious, but it’s not what I was wanting at the time! Like David, I am an omnivore – I like vegan, vegetarian, meat and fish-based meals, mostly vegetarian but very far from exclusively.

    There are, in my experience, vegetable burgers and vegetable burgers! I’ve had delicious ones and I’ve had very nasty ones – one hugely disappointing one advertised itself as a puy lentil burger, and turned out to be 99% mashed potato with a few stray lentils dotted about! But then, I have had absolutely delicious and absolutely disgusting beefburgers, too. Nothing is nicer than a great burger, but all too often they are not great!

    In many burger places here they offer you a “bunless” option, but substitute extra salad; this is what I usually go for, and then add chips! As in French fries, but not the nasty matchstick type things you get in McDos, but proper chunky British chips!

    • Diana

    Looks yummy! Glad to see vegetarian fare is catching on in France. If I ever go to France, maybe I’ll try to find East Side Burger. I’m not vegetarian, but don’t always like to eat meat. One of my favorite pastimes while traveling in Austria was trying to find good vegan food. I was really surprised to see that Vienna had some fabulous vegan options in addition to sausages and potatoes. The desserts at Yamm (vegan cardamom lemon cookies and almond cake) were amazing! If you are ever there you should check it out.

    • Jenn

    David, did you really say that Salad Nicose is vegan? I read through your recipe and it contains tuna or anchovies…? Hmmm.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      There’s a certain amount of controvery about what goes into a “real” salade Niçoise – some put anchovies and/or canned tuna on it, others say it’s just vegetables. (And the vegetables in a true Niçoise are never cooked.)

    • janet

    The French are so great at most aspects of the food industry, and you too David. But I think they have years of work ahead of them to catch up to the West Coast where many, many restaurants offer insanely delicious veggie patties. Long gone are the dry gray things made of tofu and unidentifiable products mashed up to create an “essence of meat” like seitan? ick. We don’t like to be fooled here, and if you make a veggie patty, then use fresh ingredients and allow the flavors to come out on their own. I have a great veggie burger cookbook on my iPad. The possibilities are really endless. I’ve used beets, black beans, garbanzos, fresh peppers, carrots, all kinds of spices. Browned in a pan and served on a bun with the usual accoutrements, sauces, leafy greens and you’ve got something that is a true eye-opener. I think the trend will amp up very quickly as people come to understand just how good these things can be and how much healthier than beef. It’s really sad they charge so much though.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      In the past few years, as vegetarianism has gained acceptance and gone “mainstream” to a greater extent in France, there is indeed some catching up to do to places like California, where the “hippy dippy” days of vegetarian cooking are behind us. (Although I do remember a place in Santa Cruz that had vegan pizza with cashew “cheese” that I’ll admit that I liked : 0

      Still, there’s not necessarily a lot of vegetables served in restaurants in Paris like there is in places like California (or Italy) where you see “sides” of vegetables – some vegetarian friends from LA went to a vegetarian place in Paris and told me the next day that they were surprised because there were no vegetables on the menu (!) Someone needs to open a place like Greens, in Paris, which features the beauty and creativity that vegetables and vegetarian cooking is (or should be) all about.

      But like many trends, as they branch out and become ‘normal’, people take them in many directions, like those you’ve mentioned in that cookbook. I do have to give East Side Burgers a lot of credit for pioneering the concept in Paris, and even though it’s not perfect, I like that it exists.

    • Robert

    Deeli’s recipe confirmed my thoughts on veg burgers: it takes a lot of time to make a good one! Burgers are supposed to be easy. The frozen ones here in USA vary in quality…mostly just so-so. I’ve always been surprised that the big burger chains don’t offer one consistently. Burger King occasionally has one and it’s not half-bad considering the source. Occasionally you get a veg burger that you swear is made out of ground up cardboard!

    I’m thinking David really enjoyed those French fries from East Side! There are few things better than good fries.

      • Jenn

      I make a super-simple black bean burger, double (or triple) the recipe so they’re always handy in my freezer. Far better than anything from a box, and here in Mexico my options are limited, to say the least! Four ingredients + spices = my kind of recipe. Plus I think it would take well to additions of different veggies, if I were ever so inclined to experiment. I make it vegan by using egg replacer, and use ground oats instead of breadcrumbs because I’ve always got oats and a blender handy, but never have breadcrumbs around. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/homemade-black-bean-burgers

    • French Girl in Seattle

    Interesting, David. I do enjoy a good veggie burger now and then. This is a “sujet porteur” as the French like to say… I posted about the French and the Am-Ba-Ga (hamburger) last week and received a ton of comments. I had no idea people felt so strongly about food stuck between two slices of bread :-) Bonne fin de semaine. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

    • Nisrine

    One of my vegetarian friends said she had a hard time finding anything decent to eat at restaurants while in France and was ordering goat cheese salad every single day.

    The vegetarian options here in the US are really good. Even some of the frozen options from the supermarket are quite tasty.

    Good to hear about East Side Burgers. The food looks good from the pictures.

    • Nadege

    For anybody in Los Angeles, Nancy Silverton’s “Short order” at the Groves has the most delicious burgers (grass fed meat, veg burgers…). I concur, “French girl in Seattle” blog on am-Ba-Ga is very interesting and funny.

    • Oonagh

    If any readers are going to Whistler, Canada, Splitz Burgers there do a spicy lentilburger that I dream of when I’m not there.

    • Rick

    As an expat Brooklyn boy, I am so pleased to see the spread of Brooklyn style and cuisine Brooklynaise. Too bad they don’t have cream sodas.

    • Stephanie

    You don’t mention the owners and where they are from but I am guessing they are American ?

    Also, so funny that an American tourist would come to France and seek out a burger joint :/

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Actually, I did find it interesting that the owners (or at least the people working there, who I think may be the owners) aren’t American. But I liked the fact that they did a pretty good job with the place and admired them, which is why I wanted to feature them here on the site and give them a shout-out.

      (But afterwards, I met a friend at one of the “new” coffee bars and eateries in Paris, in the 10th, which was run by Australians, and we were discussing that so many of the new places that were opening in Paris were, indeed, opened by foreigners.)

      I think sometimes it’s fun for visitors to see a French take on an American concept, but it’s true that when I go to New York or the US, people often cajole me into trying a macaron place or a French bakery to try their croissants – which I always find amusing because I live in Paris, the land of macarons and croissants! (And now, vegan burgers…)

    • jennifer Barnaby

    I’ve been a vegetarian for 35 years and I’ve lived in the South of France for 13 of them. French chefs are not trained in vegetarian cuisine and generally speaking, sneer at it so it’s good to see it in Paris. I hope it makes its way to the south. That said, the best vegetarian food I’ve ever had, anywhere in the world, is at Alain Ducasse’s 3-Michelin starred Le Louis XV in Monaco. His “Menu Jardin,” hold the meat is proof that vegetarian French food is possible, delicious and star worthy.

    • PierreND

    Thanks to you I tried it yesterday afternoon. It is very good food. We loved the atmosphere.

    • Apres New York Blog

    Oh – thank you for posting this! It is not easy being a vegetarian in Paris. I still remember the first night I arrived, my husband picked what he thought would be the perfect restaurant by our apt for our reunion (he moved here a few months before me). Well, I sat down and saw there was nothing vegetarian on the menu. N’inquiète-pas, I thought, they can perhaps put together some of the sides together for me. Nope! C’est pas possible. So we had to get up, leave and find another restaurant.

    FYI – Hotel du Nord in the 10th has a decent vegetarian burger.

    • Kristine Hinterkopf

    When I lived in London, there was a place in Soho called Red Veg that sounds kind of similar to this restaurant. It was a vegetarian fast food joint that sold veggie burgers and fries. I really liked the place and thought the burgers were good (although as a former vegan my tastes might be a little skewed). It’s nice to see that the trend has made its way to Paris!

    • Zoey

    As someone stated earlier, Alain Ducasse’s Nature: Simple, Healthy, Good cookbook has many wonderful vegetarian recipes in it, but he also includes a chapter on seafood and meat.

    • mabel

    completely unrelated but I was rereading bits of your blog and:
    nooooooooooooo
    no more pastries to be made by Jacques Genin?
    T_T

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Jacques Genin has put his pastry-making on hiatus and it’s not clear when, and if, he will resume production. He’s had some turnover in his staff and because he’s so exacting, it’s apparently been difficult to do the pastries and the chocolates, so he noted that he is going to concentrate on the chocolates (and caramels) for a while, although there have been reports that folks have seen a few pastries now and then on offer in the shop. Reports are that you can still get the mille-feuille in the salon du thé, but it’s the Paris-Brest that is so sensational.

    • mabel

    whoop, that was a prompt response =)
    thanks!
    ahh, in the name of maintaining standards
    i guess that kinda makes me a little happy
    though i really must get along and start eating off the foods on my list or they ll start disappearing like this
    mille feuille u say…

    sniffles i see it! the paris brest! that is a prestigious amount of cream!
    (cream not a lightened creme pat? i guess that much creme pat would squash it down a little but this looks so lovely and light)

    • The Mistress of Spices

    I want to tear my hair out!!!!! Veggie burger places, Mexican food, Chipotle…all of this opens AFTER I leave Paris after suffering for 6 years in a desert of bad Mexican and bad vegetarian food???

    • anna

    i do love a good burger, and when i was a vegetarian i missed them a lot. but some places do have really good veggie burgers! even now that i eat meat i will sometimes order the veggie burger at certain restaurants where i know it’s good.

    • Michael Duffy

    Diane. You have to come to the East Bay and try a burger at Val’s in Hayward. None of the SF frou-frou overpriced burgers designed to raise the prestige of the individual chef who created the uniqueness of adding this ingredient or that ingredient. Sheesh!

    David: thanks again for a refreshing take on food. Although you neglected to dissect the content of the veggie burger, you did a good job of describing the place. It certainly seems worth a visit on the next trip over.

      • Sissy

      David yes it would be wonderful if you have a good vegetable burger patty that you could share with us.

    • jobeth_b

    Melbourne has Vegie Bar which does tempeh and tofu slabs smothered in their insane peanut sauce, w cabbagey, beanshooty salad and toasted bun. 25 years I’ve been craving those things (satisfying the craving regularly and emulating at home) and I LOVE meaty burgers. They all have their place! We are lucky to have the ability to judge and choose to eat what we feel like. Yay

    • Linda

    Indeed, hamburgers have taken on new popularity, not only in Paris but in the States as well. It seems that new venues pop up every day, especially in a foodie city like Houston. As with anything else, however, some are better than others, and it doesn’t take sampling many burgers to determine a favorite.

    • Liz

    David, as a meat-eating vegetarian/vegan apologist, I must say that I always appreciate it when you post reviews or recipes regarding that side of the food chain. Often (but not always) I find the quality of food at dedicated v/v restaurants & cafés to be higher than elsewhere, as so much has to be made entirely from scratch.

    The vegan pizza you mentioned — might it have been from Saturn Café? I used to be a big fan of their vegan nachos, which also had that cashew cream. Saturn opened another branch in Berkeley (Oxford & Center) last year, but sadly both places have kind of gone downhill IMHO, more junky/storebought processed things and fewer homemade swapouts (i.e. no more cashew cream!!). Major bummer.

    @Diane Devine: I think Jenny’s Burgers in the Inner Sunset or Pearl’s (on Post in the Tenderknob or 6th & Market) might have the burger you’re looking for… Jenny’s at least has burgers (with cheese) under $10 and has a self-serve toppings bar to boot.

    • Kate

    Looks fantastic, thanks for the entertaining review.

    • Veggie

    Vegan Burgers and cookies in Paris? How wonderful and good to know for my next trip!

    • MariannaF

    Each time I go back to Paris I realize how similar it’s becoming to NY. So much similar food influence and trends, its baffles me. I am betting that in 10 years time, the French Millennials and Gen Z-ers will have created a Paris that is quasi identical in taste and style to NY. Cheesecakes, cupcakes, bagels, burgers (vegan or not), raw food, green juices, and the sorts.
    All that’s missing will be a an equivalent to seamless.com …

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      There is a lot of très Brooklyn going on around here (and some, not for the better.) But on the other hand, it’s nice that there are juice bars and healthy foods catering to modern tastes (French and international.)

A

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